Insulator



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. H. LIBBY.

INSULATOR.

Patented June 15,1897.

WITNESSES.

(No Model.)

S. H'. LIBBY.

, INSULATOR. No. 584,476.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented June 15, 1897.

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'IIIIIIIIIL L NITFD STATES PATENT FFICE.

SAM I-I. LIBBY, OF SOHENEOTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERALELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

INSULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,476, dated June 15,1897. Application filed February 10, 1897. Serial No. 622,737. (Nomodel.)

T at whont it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAM I-I. LIBBY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Insulators,(Case No. 52A,) of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to insulators employed for insulating andsupporting the IO conductor-rail of a third-rail electric-railwaysystem.

The invention. has for one of its objects to provide an insulator havinga rail clamp which may be secured to or loosened from the I 5conductor-rail by a slight angular movement and where position upon themain body of insulating material is maintained by frictional engagement.

The invention further has for its object to lessen the cost ofmanufacture and to provide an insulator which occupies a minimum amountof vertical space, at the same time presenting a large surface overwhich moisture is obliged to creep before it can damage the 2 5insulation of the system.

The invention further relates to the means employed for tapping a feederinto the conductor-rail.

In the accompanying drawings attached to and made a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved insulator securedto a contact-rail. Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Figs. 3 and l are respectively a plan and side elevation of theinsulator applied to a standard T- rail. Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofmy improved feeder-tap, and Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of the same. a

In Figs. 1 and 2 the conductor or contact 0 rail A is made with aspecial cross-section in order to reduce its vertical height to aminimum. Slopin g downward and away from the center of the rail are sideportions B B, which correspond to the flanges of a standard T-rail andare engaged by lugs 011 the rail-clamps. The rail-clamp O is providedwith lugs G and 0 These are arranged on opposite sides of the center andare displaced to permit the clamp to be applied to the bottom of therail A, after which it is slightly rotated and the lugs C O engage withthe sides B B of the rail. The center of the clamp C is provided with acircular tapered hole, into which pro jects the upper end of theinsulator D. The latter is made of porcelain or other good insulatingmaterial and is provided with a slight taper which insures goodfrictional engagement between it and the rail-clamp. The insulator D issupported by a metallic base E, which is provided at its center with avertical extension E. The latter is screw-threaded or roughened, andbetween it and the insulator is a filling of suitable cement F. The baseE is provided with holes, so that it may be spiked to a cross-tie. lheouter surface of the insulator may or may not be glazed. I have found,however, that there is less liability of the moisture creeping over thesurface if it is glazed and also that dirt does not stick so readily.

The weight of the conductor-rail A is suflicient to prevent the clampsfrom turning after they have been mounted in position, and by extendingthe body of insulation D through the rail-clamp side movementof theconductor-rail A is prevented.

Figs. 3 and at show my invention applied to a standard T-rail. Thevertical height of this rail being greater than the one of specialcross-section shown in Fig. 1, the insulator D is mounted on a base E,provided with upwardly-extending extensions G, which rest on thecross-ties H H and are secured thereto by lag-screws I. This permits thebase of the insulator to drop below the top of the ties. Theconstruction of the clamp O and the insulator D is the same as shown anddescribed in connection with Fig. 1.

Figs. '5 and 6 show a device for tapping a feeder into theconductor-rail. Supported from the crossties H H by arms K is an insulator J, comprising a metal cylinder K, within which is thelead-covered feeder-cable L. Between the cable and the cylinder isinsulating material M, which is applied While 5 in a plastic state.Surrounding the cylinder K is a cap K of insulating material, andsecured to the cylinder by any suitable means. In the present-instancethe cap and cylinder are screwthreaded, and between them is a smallamount of the insulating material M.

At the upper end of the cable L the insulation is removed and aconnector L is soldered or otherwise secured thereto. The outer end ofthe connector L is provided with a tubular projection L into which isdriven the pin L This expands the tube L and-insures good electricalcontact between the connector L and the rail.

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

1. In a conductor-rail insulator, the combination of a metal base, abody of insulating material mounted upon the base, a rail-clamp securedto the conductor-rail and prevented from moving independently of theinsulator by frictional engagement therewith.

2. In a conductor-rail insulator, the combination of a metal base, abody of insulating material mounted upon the base, a clamp secured tothe conductor-rail by an angular movement, and friction-surfaces on theinsulating-base and rail-clamp preventing the rail-clamp from moving.

3. In a conductor-rail insulator, the combination of a metal base, abody of insulating material mounted thereon and provided With a taperedportion, a rail-clamp mounted on the tapered portion of the insulator,and lugs on the rail-clam p engaging with the conduc- 5. In aconductor-rail insulator, the combination of a metal base, meanspermitting the base to be dropped below the top of the crossties, a bodyof insulating material mounted on the metal base, and a rail-clampprovided with lugs for engaging with the conductorrail.

6. In a conductor-rail insulator, the combination of a metal base,extensions on the base secured to the cross-ties and permitting the baseto be dropped below the top of the crossties, a body of insulatingmaterial mounted on the base, and a rail-clamp.

, 7. In a feeder-insulator, the combination of a metal cylinder,extensions from the cylinder secured to the cross-ties, insulationbetween the feeder-cable and the cylinder, and a. connector secured tothe cable and supplyconductor.

8. The combination of a conductor-rail, a fixed non rotating insulator,and a metal clamp between the rail and the insulator free to rotate onthe insulator and having lugs Which are clamped upon the rail by arotary movement of the clamp.

9. The combination of a metal base adapted to be fixed to a support, aporcelain or other vitreous in sulating-bod y having a tapered circularoutline and fixed to a stem upon the metal base, and a reversely-taperedmetal clamp surrounding the insulating-body and free to turn thereon,said clamp having side flanges forming seats for a conducting-rail, andclamping-lugs which are clamped upon the rail by a rotary movement.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of February,1897.

SA H. LIBBY.

Witnesses B. B. HULL, A. F. MACDONALD.

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